A car on the tracks in Fair Lawn was struck by a NJ Transit train on Tuesday evening A NJ Transit spokesperson said the incident happened just before 5:30 p.m near the Radburn Station involving "a train not in passenger service being moved eastbound along the Bergen County Line." The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital There was no word on the severity of the driver's injuries NJ Transit service in the area was temporarily suspended The New Jersey Transit Police led the investigation Kiki Macri (39) of Mahwah gets past Lily Reidy (23) and Kendra Santos (12) of Verona during the NJSIAA North Jersey Group 1 quarterfinal girls lacrosse game between Mahwah and Verona at Mahwah High School in Mahwah 2024.Mile Djordjiovski | For NJ Advance Media .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comKiki Macri posted five goals to lead sixth-seeded Mahwah to an 8-3 win over 11th-seeded Fair Lawn in the first round of the Bergen County Tournament Mahwah (8-3) will face third-seeded Pascack Valley in the quarterfinals in Tuesday Alexa Cherven added a goal and two assists for the Thunderbirds while Krista Salerno and Taylor Tremblay each scored once Abigail Sullivan scored twice for the Cutters (6-5) while Jade Lang added one goal The N.J. 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices 2025 at 2:31 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Fair lawn man was arrested Friday after pills and weapons were found in a home NJ — Police who searched a home in Fair Lawn on Friday as part of an assault investigation found two machetes and "numerous indicators of drug distribution and manufacturing," said police Wednesday Police said they were investigating a two-week-old assault when they obtained a search warrant for a residence on Pellington Drive possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose distribution of narcotics within 500 feet of a public park and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute Rodriguez was taken to the Bergen County Jail Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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A Fair Lawn animator with a passion for stories about mental health hopes that her indie animated film called "Arcade" can spread a simple message: It’s OK to admit you need help “Be kind to yourself,” said 23-year-old Erica Travia “Especially with what’s going on in the world people need to understand how to take time to love yourself and know it’s OK to not be OK and express these feelings A lot of people tend to forget about that.” "Arcade," a short film that Travia created and directed in 2023 explores themes of anxiety and panic as experienced by a fictional college student named Milo Milo is pursued throughout the 8-minute movie by a manifestation of his anxiety known as "Annie." The film was a semifinalist in the New York Indie Short Awards an official selection at the Manchester International Film Festival in 2023 and a winner the same year in the Best Amateur category at SHORT to the Point Next month, it will be featured at the Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival in New York City a competition that will spotlight works focusing on mental health Changing Minds will be held on May 17 at the Village East Cinema in Manhattan "Annie's torment becomes so intense that Milo is unable to sleep or even use the bathroom," Travia's website explains "Milo eventually finds comfort in the arcade only to discover that he can't escape his fears so easily." Travia's work "offers a fresh and thoughtful perspective on the complexities of anxiety and mental health," said Jordyn Rosenthal, the advocacy director at Community Access a housing and mental health provider behind the festival we believe storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for breaking down stigma and 'Arcade' adds meaningfully to that conversation." has been interested in animation from an early age with Nickelodeon’s "Avatar the Last Airbender" one of her biggest inspirations that was when I knew I wanted to make cartoons and create animated films,” she said she attended the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia Even when COVID hit during her sophomore year forcing her to take her classes back in New Jersey she was thrilled to finally find friends with the same goals “After [making] 'Arcade,' I still have a really big network of people to contact just to chat The idea for "Arcade" came during her senior year and started as a class project she saw that "everyone’s mental health just dropped.” so it comes from personal experience,” said Travia that people really don’t talk about their mental health enough and they don’t take care of their mental health enough even if they want to.” She wanted her film to remind people that they have friends or family ready to support them “no matter what.” starting with her college friends and classmates but eventually spreading to connections she made online she was leading a team of 85 collaborators around the world “The hardest part was the beginning since nobody knew of 'Arcade,'” Travia said “I would really have to persuade people that 'this was very good Travia said the accomplishment didn't hit her until "Arcade" screened in a student showcase at school “To see your ideas that were on your iPad for a class project people actually enjoy your story enough to want to work on it.’” With contributions coming from around the globe maintaining a consistent style of animation was a challenge Travia worked on some backgrounds and also helped take care of marketing “Because I was the one who created the idea I wanted the whole team to put their creative freedom into the film.” More: Fair Lawn bakery's mission is to break barriers for workers with autism While "Arcade continues" to reach new audiences which she hopes to complete by the end of the year this time focusing on obsessive-compulsive disorder having it be more professional,” said Travia who's again assembled a large cast of artists The process is slower than when she was in school as Travia is now an art teacher at the One River School in Englewood But she's still excited about her future in the industry With money tightening in the movie business big studios are canceling animation productions and greenlighting fewer of them But that's opened up more space for indie projects which have grown more popular in recent years It's allowing more animators to pursue their visions without corporate interference “Things are a little dark right now with animation strikes “Indie animation is getting popular and I’m all for it and I want to be a part of that I want to show my creative freedom to people.”    For young creatives who want to delve into the business Travia emphasizes one thing: people will like your ideas Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community please subscribe or activate your digital account today Email: noda@northjersey.com; X: @snoda11 Fair Lawn has expanded one of its two special improvement districts, this time looking to support and boost growth for businesses in the Fair Lawn Avenue area “We as a community are now giving Fair Lawn Avenue the attention it deserves and desperately needs,” said Ryan Greff executive director of Fair Lawn Main Street Inc. the economic development group that manages the districts Fair Lawn's borough council has created two special districts in town: one on Broadway and a second that includes River Road and now Fair Lawn Avenue Businesses in those areas are required to pay a special assessment into a pool of money used to promote the economic and general welfare of the neighborhood supporting tasks like sidewalk beautification and litter cleanups Not everyone is enthused about the expansion Some local businesses balked at the added fees required by the new designation questioning whether they are worth the benefits "I’m a town person. I love Fair Lawn and I hope this makes some sort of miraculous impact on the downtown Fair Lawn area," said Dave Drahouzal, owner of the Dutch House Tavern Owners of Fair Lawn Avenue businesses will be charged a rate of 9.7 cents per $100 of the property's assessed value the same as retail locations in the River Road area Extending onto Fair Lawn Avenue will add 23 properties to the district It will generate an additional $40,000 per year for the SID on top of the $150,000 contributed by River Road took a more active role and “the benefits of being in a special improvement district have become significantly more visible,” store owners in other parts of town became interested in receiving similar services “It was kind of weird that Fair Lawn Avenue was not a SID while River Road was,” he said Property and store owners and community members spoke for and against the proposal during a December meeting prompting the borough council to table a planned vote But the ordinance was eventually approved with a unanimous vote at the end of February there was litter throughout the Radburn business area which is included in the Fair Lawn Avenue district is served by a private sanitation service twice a week in addition to the borough’s sanitation department contracted with Dare Commercial Services LLC of Franklin Township for supplemental cleanup on Fair Lawn Avenue twice per week Native Fields Landscaping of Wharton was also contracted for landscaping and weeding services starting in spring there is a sticker that says 'Clinton/Gore ’96,'” said Greff illustrative point of how little attention this area has gotten we have something coming out every other week Looking ahead, Greff also hopes to bring a facade improvement program that has benefited River Road and Broadway to Fair Lawn Avenue too president of the Fair Lawn Chamber of Commerce said Radburn-area store owners often ask her why they don't get holiday decorations during Christmas or “how come River Road and Broadway gets this or that More: Fair Lawn eatery reopens, six months after strip-mall fire. What’s next for other shops? “They don’t realize there’s an added cost to it,” she said Those same business owners have been asking for extra garbage pickup and planters some business owners have also come to her with concerns saying they can’t afford to pay their Chamber membership dues support other town efforts like the Rotary Club and also absorb the cost of being in the district Chamber dues can vary from $175 to $400 a year depending on the number of employees “We’re trying to work with these businesses to try to help them understand the value that they’re going to get by having the area more kept up,” said Lemberg Dutch House owner Drahouzal said that while there is some litter in local parking lots he doesn’t feel the need for a special improvement district in the corridor The move will force some businesses to withdraw from town groups mentioning he has quit the Chamber of Commerce since the SID expansion was approved “This is basically replacing it,” said Drahouzal “I have a problem with paying for something that I already do but I don’t think they will apply to my business that well.” are looking forward to the services the SID will provide who owns two cafes and a beauty salon in town said one of the main concerns for her Fair Lawn Avenue businesses was that garbage was “all over the parking lot and the landscaping.” “It just wasn’t being picked up enough,” said Zvanets. “Even when we first opened CoZie Café we got a message from a person who was happy that we were here but [added] that it was just so dirty around the building.” The cafe and Zvanets' The Beauty Loft are now part of the Fair Lawn Avenue business district while her Better Daze Café is on River Road Now that the additional sanitation is in place Zvanets said she’s “really looking forward to not having to experience that anymore for myself and people coming to my business.” “I know some other businesses have shared the same concerns of the tidiness of the area,” said Zvanets who mentioned she was also looking forward to new holiday decorations and landscaping “We just want it to be a more walkable space which brings more people to our businesses.” Fair Lawn’s mayor will be stepping down from her position but will remain on the council for the rest of her term Gail Rottenstrich, who has served as a councilwoman since 2017, was sworn in as mayor last March, filling a vacancy left when her predecessor, Kurt Peluso, was hired as borough manager At a council work session and in a Facebook post this week the Democrat announced she would step down as mayor effective Feb saying it was her “greatest honor” to serve Fair Lawn She said in yet another Facebook comment that she will not be seeking reelection when her council term wraps up at the end of this year “Stepping down from mayor will give me the opportunity to focus on the priorities that have been so dear to my heart, promoting diversity and inclusivity, sustainability, smart economic development historic preservation and financial stability,” Rottenstrich said in the Facebook comment Fair Lawn's next mayorThe council will likely vote for a new mayor during its Feb Fair Lawn's government is run by its five elected members who each year select one of their own to be mayor Rottenstrich said she is planning to nominate Deputy Mayor Cristina Cutrone to fill the position Rottenstrich said her decision to resign as mayor was tied to her choice not to run for a third term in office this year “I think it’s better for consistency that the person who is in the mayor’s office is staying a longer term,” she said “I have very much enjoyed being Fair Lawn’s mayor but for the rest of my term on the council I really feel I need to focus on the things that I started.” Those priorities included sustainability, supporting local small businesses, the borough's Green Team, its Shade Tree Committee and Fair Lawn Main Street Inc. More: Fair Lawn office building sells for $22M as medical firms expand “Having been elected twice to the council in a town I love so much has meant a tremendous amount to me,” said Rottenstrich who has lived in the borough for almost 30 years “Having the confidence of the residents to make significant and important changes has really been very satisfying Rottenstrich said she intends to remain active in town on the environmentally focused Green Team and Shade Tree committees and with other groups “I definitely plan to continue with Fair Lawn Main Street My commitment to Fair Lawn remains the same; it will just be a little different.” Before becoming mayor, Rottenstrich served as deputy mayor and in the separate position of deputy mayor of community affairs. She is also the CEO of Zago Manufacturing Co. a Newark business that manufactures sealing fasteners and components Six months after a strip-mall fire destroyed the newly opened business, Fair Lawn Roadhouse has returned to the borough at a new location Moshe Berow, owner of Fair Lawn Roadhouse, said it had been open only five months when a July 26 fire destroyed the Fair Lawn Avenue strip mall that housed his kosher eatery Berow's is one of several businesses still picking up the pieces after the overnight blaze “It was pretty deflating,” Berow said Tuesday in the midst of Fair Lawn Roadhouse's soft opening “We were just hitting a point where we knew what we were doing Berow said he immediately went to work dealing with insurance and searching for a new site an 'incredible' responseThe community's response after the fire was “incredible,” with people reaching out constantly with offers to help and leads on new locations People from outside the community also supported the restaurant when he held a pop-up event in Teaneck around the holidays “There were some places that were available in Teaneck and Paramus that I saw, and I took a look at them, but Fair Lawn came out to support me immediately after the fire so it was critical to us to share that love and stay close to home.” The store has reopened at 22-08 Morlot Avenue When the space became available in October and he and his staff got to work preparing for this week's soft opening An official grand opening ceremony should come in about four to six weeks Fair Lawn Roadhouse has many new staff members but has retained its executive chef and prep cook The restaurant is offering a limited version of its original menu as workers learn the meals but Berow plans to add more items back as time goes on Fire Lawn Roadhouse will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m but prepared foods and takeout will be available from 9 a.m “I went a few times to the other location and they’ve been gone for awhile because of the fire,” said Clem Batelli a customer who came to support the restaurant during its soft open Fair Lawn Roadhouse isn’t the only business to land back on its feet after the fire: Flynn’s Barbershop has also been back in town for a while leasing space monthly from pet groomer Coat Tales since August the move has allowed the barbershop to continue to serve its customers and even launch a new hair balm as Flynn's waits for the next step said he’s been waiting to hear back from the owner of the strip mall to see what the plans are Flynn would like to go back to his original location More: Fair Lawn seeks new school board member after 18-year veteran leaves. Why he resigned Borough Manager Kurt Peluso said the owner of the Fair Lawn Avenue strip mall has been in contact with the town's building department and to the "best of his knowledge," they "plan to rebuild it the way it was."  The barbershop's current location at 14-12 River Road is only a half-mile from the original shop but the business has lost a lot of regulars who didn’t know it was back “Even this week and almost every week since we’ve been here people are coming in to say ‘I didn’t know you were here,’” Flynn said It's not clear what will happen to some of the other businesses forced out by the fire. On its website, Zadies notes that the popular kosher bakery "no longer has a retail location" but adds: "You can still purchase our products at many local supermarkets We thank everyone for their kind words and support during this difficult time." Email: noda@northjersey.com; X: @snoda11 Deputy Mayor Cristina Cutrone became Fair Lawn’s new mayor after Gail Rottenstrich stepped down from her position Thursday night. council members unanimously voted for Cutrone to take over Rottenstrich's role Deputy Mayor of Community Affairs Josh Reinitz was voted as the borough’s new deputy mayor while Rottenstrich was voted to take on the role of deputy mayor of community affairs Fair Lawn's government is run by its five elected members, who each year select one of their own to be mayor. Rottenstrich, who has served as a councilwoman since 2017, was sworn in as mayor last March, filling a vacancy left when her predecessor, Kurt Peluso, was hired as borough manager when Rottenstrich announced she would step down the Democrat said it was her “greatest honor” to serve Fair Lawn She said in a Facebook post that she will not be seeking reelection when her council term wraps up at the end of this year “My decision to step down as mayor is based entirely on my decision to not run for reelection,” said Rottenstrich at the meeting adding that she was in good health and will be a five-year cancer survivor in April “It’s a decision I struggled with because I love being mayor and I love being a member of this council and working with these wonderful people.” was appointed to the borough council in 2017 and was later elected to the position in 2018 She has worked as a public school educator for 18 years and currently serves as the chairperson of the social studies department at Tenafly High School Cutrone is also the vice president of the Tenafly Education Association and was a former trustee on the Bergen County Board of Education for Special Services She is also the co-founder and president of a grassroots organization called WE DO (Women Empowered Democratic Organization) which supports women running for public office a longtime friend of Cutrone who also served as a president of WE DO Way once served as president of the Passaic County chapter while Cutrone serves at the Bergen County chapter president has truly been an inspiration to me,” said Way Cutrone thanked everyone for their well wishes and said Rottenstrich has always inspired her to take on challenges that she never thought she could and step outside of her comfort zone “As I step into this role during these deeply uncertain times I recognize the weight of this moment,” said Cutrone after being sworn in “When we look at the challenges facing our nation sometimes feel powerless or tempted to give up I feel a profound responsibility to help restore hope and to show a path forward.”   The old Fair Lawn Nabisco plant is being dismantled slowly but surely but plans to replace it with a warehouse are now a “question mark,” a borough official said which is being redeveloped by Greek Real Estate Partners has been “slowly coming down,” Borough Manager Kurt Peluso said at a Borough Council meeting last week responding to a resident who asked for an update Peluso said he'd been told that Glen Rock residents who are direct neighbors of the site had issues with the position of a crane and noise coming from the property the developer has to get approval from both the local and state building departments to “make sure everything is clean that is coming down.” “Because of the process of checking everything before it comes down it has slowed down the process quite a bit but it is coming down safely and in a very clean manner,” Peluso added at the March 25 meeting Nabisco closed its bakery in 2021 and sold it to the developer It's been almost two years since Greek canceled plans to implode the remaining tower amid concerns from local residents about the release of asbestos or other potential contaminants The East Brunswick company then promised to clear the site through an "alternative method" that would not involve explosives Once the building is removed, Greek Real Estate Partners has approvals to build a warehouse covering 644,000 square feet, about the size of Prudential Center in Newark, along with 10,000 square feet of office space and 256 parking spaces. The project was approved by Fair Lawn's Planning Board in 2023. Why Nabisco warehouse is now a 'question mark'Peluso said he “doesn’t know” what’s going on with the warehouse proposal saying it is a “question mark now.” He said there “might be another proposal” from the developer eventually but nothing has been filed with the borough “I know the developers, as you look at the market, there’s been a lot of changes at the national level, especially with some of these new tariffs going into place,” Peluso said “There has been a lot of warehouse distribution centers popping up throughout New Jersey so the demand isn’t as high as when they first purchased it.” New Jersey warehouse vacancy rates last year reached their highest levels in a decade the result of a surge in new construction and uncertainty over the economic impacts of President Donald Trump's promised tariffs told The Record and NorthJersey.com in February that many potential warehouse tenants "have paused or slowed plans for expansion." Peluso said no new application had been filed for the property as of yet Greek Real Estate Partners did not immediately respond to a message asking about the timeline for dismantling the building and the state of the warehouse plan More: Fair Lawn diners got a good meal, and this food pantry got $3,000 to help the hungry For decades, the bakery churned out Oreos, animal crackers and other treats, producing a sweet-smelling aroma that wafted over neighboring streets. But Mondelēz International Inc., Nabisco's Chicago-based parent, shut down the plant in July 2021, letting 600 workers go. Greek Real Estate purchased the 40-acre property for $146.5 million The question was posed from one member of the Fair Lawn brain trust to another Coach Mike Carti wanted to bring on an assistant who knows his system inside and out after playing and working for him in club lacrosse there was something he needed to clear up with senior captain Sydney Murri Would she mind playing for her older sister Samantha or push back at spending more time with her current roommate "He was worried that some siblings aren't as close as us 18 – have put their hometown team back on the proverbial map The Cutters are 6-4 this spring with Sydney as one of the county's top scorers and Samantha tapping into her experience as a former player at Fair Lawn and Kean University younger cousin Jade Lang is catching passes and helping run the offense from the midfield So the family culture that high school teams love to embrace is more than just a slogan at Fair Lawn It's fueled the rise of a team with four freshmen starters "I always wanted to coach at Fair Lawn," Samantha Murri said "Coming back and coaching at your high school is like a dream especially when you have a sister on the team the Murris never got the chance to play together Their plan to start an alumni game this year may solve that lacrosse chatter at home is often "short and sweet." Some days "Sammy is as hard on Syd as I am on Syd," Carti said It's coach/player and they respect that boundary." Fair Lawn is pushing toward higher boundaries 11 seed at the upcoming Bergen County tournament In the center of the offense and the draw circle is Sydney Murri who's racked up 25 goals and 10 assists despite missing one game with a fever Her teammates took advantage of their extra touches by scoring a season-high 17 goals in victory Breakout seasons from sophomore Abby Sullivan (32 goals) and senior Aimee Lieman (79 saves) have loomed large "We have six other girls who are stepping up for us [on offense]," Sydney said "Carti coming in last year changed everything It isn't a total coincidence that home games at Sasso Field have become mini-reunions whose family photo from the gym each Christmas has become a household tradition their introduction to the high school scene came well before earning the first varsity letter With parents Dennis and Stephanie working as teachers and three-sport coaches the sisters got used to tagging along at practice rather than cycling off to daycare "I grew up with both my parents coaching," said Samantha "They've always been such an inspiration for me I wanted to have those feelings of coming home and winning a championship and how they create all these bonds with those student-athletes." The bond between the Murris is unmistakable When Samantha started lacrosse in fourth grade and stepped on a college field years later her little sister was inspired to do the same her sister showed up to Signing Day in Lions garb – as weird as it felt to promote an old conference rival whose more fiery persona prompted the nickname "D3" or Dennis III in some wrestling circles Sydney has to catch herself every now and then when it's tempting to snap back like a little sister A new dynamic doesn't fully erase 18 years of history she's my coach and I have to have that respect for her Soon after Oradell's Kelly Castro learned that her son had autism she began hearing the tough truth from other parents: School programs and other support for autistic children largely disappear after kids turn 21 they all described it the same way: Once they turn 21 Instead of accepting that fact, Castro has set out in her own way to change the status quo. On Saturday, she'll open her second business designed to provide work opportunities and training to adults with autism. Her new Fair Lawn bakery, Just a Taste of New Jersey will hold a ribbon-cutting at noon on Saturday The store at 25-05 Broadway not only works with adult students with autism it also features goods and products from other local businesses that employ people with disabilities “There’s all this focus on these individuals in school or early intervention before they are even in school on 'how do we get them to progress?'” Castro said and then they turn 21 and don’t have anything to do with the skills they worked so hard to get.” Just a Taste is an expansion of the operation she started out of her home in 2023, Carson’s Cookie Dough The business was inspired by Castro's 8-year-old son who was diagnosed with autism at an early age His mother was "terrified" after hearing about the diminishing prospects for kids like Carson once school support runs out But that changed at a retreat where Castro met the owners of Maplewood-based Beloved Bath Their bath-products company employs many who have autism “A lightbulb went off in my head," said Castro She started renting time at a kitchen in the Westwood Community Center where she would work with two to three adult students with autism at a time helping them learn to prepare and make her cookies as the kitchen was shared with other people Castro searched for a bigger space to call her own and found something unexpected: a former bakery in Fair Lawn that provided both a kitchen and a storefront she also could sell products of businesses with a similar mission and body lotions and candles from Beloved Bath “Every product that we have in there is made by a company which specifically hires adults with autism and differently abled adults,” Castro said Having her own storefront has been a “complete game changer” for Castro's efforts About 20 adult students can now participate five days a week to learn job skills The volunteers are people ages 18 to 21 who attend autism programs at Cresskill public schools Northern Valley Regional High School and the Park Ridge school district and in Little Falls “Our mission for both companies is to support adults who are differently abled with the ultimate goal of hiring these adults,” Castro said noting that the organization is still in its infancy we are able to work with these adult students from various adult programs throughout Bergen County.” The Just a Taste kitchen is set up with the students in mind Its accommodations include step-by-step instructions near the cash register and in the kitchen Castro learns something new every day with her workers as each brings different skills and personalities to the bakery “I think ‘if this person is having difficulty with this task what can I do to make it easier for her?’” she said “Maybe we can add a different seating option Our kitchen is set up very specifically and labeled very specifically We want the adults to not only succeed at the tasks but also interact with each other to build socialization skills that can also be challenging.” “It’s cool to see their confidence,” she added “You can see them interacting with the customers That’s an unexpected element we’re beginning to see.” a job coach from the Cresskill school district’s Community Steps to Independence program said three of her students visit Just a Taste twice a week They enjoy the feeling of growing independence Castro "really makes them feel so comfortable and so welcomed," Van Cleft said "One boy goes in and has learned how to make the dough himself It’s really a nice thing she’s doing for her family and the community.” Castro hopes her example will encourage other employers to be more inclusive Her goal for Carson’s Cookie Dough and Just a Taste isn’t to have employees who work there for 20 years; she wants to be a launchpad that helps students gain skills to work at other businesses as well More: Bergen girls launch gift drive for HIV/AIDS patients at Paramus' Harrison House “The unemployment rate is over 80% for adult who are differently abled and it’s such a staggering number,” she said ‘People don’t want to hire someone just because they have autism?’ I see how hard my son works and how hard his classmates work I think this hasn’t been on anybody’s radar ‘What steps could I do to add these individuals to our workforce?’” Just a Taste's initial hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m Castro said the hours will expand in the coming weeks “These individuals are such a delight,” she said The town of Fair Lawn has been absolutely incredible We’ve had a very warm welcome across the board.” A synagogue in Fair Lawn has changed hands for the first time in more than six decades according to a brokerage team with Newmark Associates Commercial Real Estate the firm said it represented Temple Beth Sholom in its sale of the 28,000-square-foot building at 40-25 Fair Lawn Ave An undisclosed organization acquired the house of worship which sits on some two acres and includes community gathering space and a preschool in a transaction that Newmark Associates described as unique and complex due to the seller’s longtime ownership completed the assignment in tandem with the temple’s sale committee executive committee and board of directors as well as the local community Jeffrey Herrmann of Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLC has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Greek Real Estate Partners has gained a seal of approval for one of its key divisions thanks to a new accreditation from the Institute of Real Estate Management All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy A Fair Lawn Public Library worker says he faced discrimination for being a man and was fired and replaced by a woman who was less qualified Alexander Cardillo has been an employee at the library since 2004 which requires extensive knowledge of available library resources A lawsuit he filed in state Superior Court on Feb 13 says Cardillo has a master's degree in library science and a state librarian certification the library and its director and board are named as defendants in the suit Borough Manager Kurt Peluso did not respond to an email for comment The suit says the library's staff of 30 is overwhelmingly women and Library Director Adele Puccio had hired only one other man since becoming director in 2016 and only to fill in when no one else is available to work Local: Fair Lawn mayor stepping down after year at helm. Who's next in line? Cardillo's suit says Puccio violated the state's Law Against Discrimination by denying his annual raise since 2022 cutting his hours and chastising him about a conversation held with other library workers about being paid during a repair He said his hours were cut to harass him or get him to resign and that Puccio told him she had hired a female employee who wasn't certified and they would alternate hours The lawsuit says Cardillo spoke to two library board members and his hours were restored The suit says Cardillo received an email on Feb notifying him that he would be removed from the schedule until further notice required before a discussion of a person's job Several days later he received a preliminary notice of disciplinary action accusing him of using a library computer to contact an employee which would violate the library's confidentiality policy Cardillo said Puccio immediately removed him from his position "until further notice." The lawsuit says Cardillo's position at the reference desk was filled by a female employee "who was neither qualified nor had the credentials to be assigned to such a location." Cardillo said he was falsely accused of harassing another employee and eventually was fired after a disciplinary hearing it was transferred to the Office of Administrative Law Cardillo reached a settlement agreement with the library board he returned to his work and his previously established schedule from 2021 at the library Cardillo said the library board and Puccio "immediately undermined" him by cutting his hours denying him the ability to work discretionary hours Puccio sharing the contents of the agreement with outside parties He accused Puccio of favoring the female employees by exclusively offering jobs to them and offering a new female hire the Sunday shift that previously belonged to him He said Puccio "made it a point of discussing her animus towards men" and made comments at a December 2024 library board meeting about some people coming into the library "to perform an audit of the First Amendment Rights." The suit says Puccio "disregarded the question and answered those are guys who live in their mother's basement." The suit says Cardillo suffers from physical emotional and economic damage because of these actions and is seeking several kinds of damages attorneys fees and the cost of the lawsuit A 58-year-old community theater group in Fair Lawn will shut down performances for at least six to nine months as it seeks to adjust to a borough decision that could almost quadruple its costs Founded in 1967, the Old Library Theatre was named for the River Road building where it got its start but since 2006 it has put on shows at the Fair Lawn Community Center which calls itself "the resident community theater of Fair Lawn," typically performs seven shows a year with a mix of volunteer actors and paid directors and musicians But the drama company's last production for the near future "Rock of Ages," has been scheduled for March 14 to 16 and 21 to 23 “I think the actors have been a little upset because they like being here We are an open organization to make people feel comfortable,” said David Toussas but they are willing to put on the best possible show that they can.” Actors in the group are 18 years old and above and reside within and outside of Fair Lawn The Old Library Theatre pays Fair Lawn to rent space in the community center's George Frey Center for Performing Arts which is also used by other local theater groups The fees kick in once ticket sales pass a certain threshold the troupe was not charged for "tech week," the rehearsals before a performance when lighting and sound are tested the group would pay the town 20% of ticket proceeds as long as more than 90 tickets were sold; if the audience fell short of that the Old Library Theatre received an email from Borough Administrator Kurt Peluso saying the town was changing the arrangement Fair Lawn plans to charge the theater group the same rate other nonprofits pay to use the center That would mean tech week fees of about $655 a night Toussas had budgeted for $2,300 worth of fees for an upcoming performance of "Rock of Ages." Now it's expected to cost $7,400 an increase that the group doesn’t have the money to cover rental fees would rise by 275% over the previous agreement The borough also asked the theater to start covering its own insurance a step that will require it to reconstitute itself as a nonprofit The Old Library Theatre plans to create a GoFundMe campaign to seek donations but first it needs to figure out its future budget and operating costs “Most community theaters break even with the cost of acquiring rights getting costumes and paying for musicians,” Toussas said The group's local connections also became an issue Toussas said town officials asked how many Fair Lawn residents were part of the organization in the summer The theater company responded that it was hard to determine because actors often work with several different community theaters The Old Library Theatre hadn't been keeping tabs Toussas said the company provided its email list to the borough in case officials wanted to reach out to members It also offered to create a “Friends of the Old Library Theatre” discount for Fair Lawn residents but did not hear back from borough officials During a recent performance of a play called "Cardboard Trees and a Painted Moon," two Fair Lawn High School students helped with spotlights and at least three borough residents were in the 20-member cast Fair Lawn actors will also take the stage in "Rock of Ages," he said Peluso said the borough needed to update its agreement as there are “a lot more costs putting on a theater than there was in the past.” “Don’t get me wrong: Fair Lawn is not looking to run a profit off the theater We think it’s a very important thing to bring to the community,” he said “We had to have some of these entities pay enough for us not to be in the red so drastically Fair Lawn lost a significant amount of money last year putting on shows.” Since some shows did not meet the ticket threshold the borough had to “eat the cost of overtime lights and everything that goes into production “It’s just not sustainable to run it that way,” Peluso said He also said Old Library Theatre includes members of many communities outside Fair Lawn "Why would we give a discount to them and not the other nonprofit theater groups that utilize this facility?” Peluso asked Using the community center is “still significantly cheaper than other facilities in the surrounding area,” he added More: Fair Lawn eatery reopens, six months after strip-mall fire. What’s next for other stores? While the drama company may not be able to do all the shows it wants other nonprofits have reached out to the borough to step in so it’s great to see so many different organizations coming so we can guarantee that our residents constantly have arts programs to enjoy here in Fair Lawn,” Peluso said has put out the call to the community for help The group is seeking leads in terms of affordable storage It is currently holding rehearsals in Temple Beth Tikvah in Wayne "Your support is crucial as OLT navigates this challenging period," the group says in a message on its website. Correction: A prior version of this story gave an inaccurate figure for the added costs of "tech week" rehearsals for the Old Library Theater based on incomplete information provided by the theater group A change to overnight parking rules in Fair Lawn will require residents to make requests online rather than by phone Overnight parking is generally prohibited on borough streets and in parking lots Starting on April 1, the borough Police Department will no longer use the Metro Message telephone service at 201-794-5399 for these requests, says a post on the Fair Lawn Facebook page drivers must make these requests online on the police website After April 1, drivers who want permission to park between 2 and 5 a.m. will have to visit fairlawnpd.com/parking and enter their license plate information to register their car but requests must be submitted no earlier than 24 hours before the desired parking date The borough’s parking ordinance states that vehicles may be registered for up two consecutive nights and a maximum of 14 nights per year is allowed The ordinance applies to all public and municipal parking areas More: Fair Lawn community theater cancels shows after borough raises fees. Why they're at odds Those who want more information about the change can visit visit fairlawnpd.com or contact the Fair Lawn Police Department at its non-emergency line The borough website says there is no parking from 2 to 5 a.m on any Fair Lawn street or in municipal parking lots/areas opened its first location in Bergen County on Saturday The 32,000-square-foot club at 18-01 Pollitt Drive has 12 fully fenced “oversized” indoor courts with “outdoor-style court surfacing,” the company says The Fair Lawn location also features a store selling pickleball equipment and a private event space The club celebrated the grand opening on Saturday with raffles a food truck and meetings with a physical therapist “We opened because we want to build a community,” said Fair Lawn location co-owner Wai Yiu “People from different ages can play together We see grandparents play with grandsons and different age groups coming together from different backgrounds.” The price of a monthly unlimited membership is $199 and a one-year unlimited membership is $2,089 The drop-in fee for non-members is $30 and allows full-day use of the club A membership at The Picklr gives nationwide access to other locations four clinic passes per month and four guest passes per month The Utah-based franchise started four years ago and Fair Lawn marks the group’s 37th location The Picklr is hoping to have 88 locations nationwide Russell said the facility was built with a sound baffle system that absorbs the loud sound of the pickleball games and makes it easier to hold conversations with teammates and opponents offered at The Picklr are aimed at everyone who is interested in learning more about the sport “We have opportunities for you to come and learn,” Russell said “We have a pathway where you don’t have to be a member We invite anybody who’s curious about it to come on in.” Keystone Development + Investment has sold a more than 151,000-square-foot medical and professional office building in Fair Lawn for $22 million The brokerage team represented the seller and procured the buyer noting that the property at 17-17 Route 208 is recently renovated with a new roof The trade also follows a recent lease by Summit Health which consolidated five area sites and practices at the 151,339-square-foot building in collaboration with Brannan Knott and Chris Bodnar of the firm’s U.S health care capital markets completed the deal They added that the building sits along Route 208 and is adjacent to the Fair Lawn Promenade 17-17 provides new ownership with stable cash flow and the potential to convert the remaining office space to medical use given the strong medical market and easy accessibility from affluent neighboring towns such as Franklin Lakes Atkins noted that it immediately completed two deals to fill the previous vacancy They included a 6,000-square-foot expansion with current tenant Gottlieb & Greenspan LLC and a new 4,600-square-foot lease with SportsCare Physical Therapy “Our acquisition of 17-17 Route 208 reflects our commitment to investing in high-quality well-located medical office properties that meet the evolving needs of today’s health care providers,” said Cory Atkins “We are excited to bring the building to full occupancy and leverage our relationship-driven approach to ensure a premier experience for our tenants and their patients.” Bao Dumplings and Bao Tea is adding a fourth New Jersey location with a new 1,450-square-foot lease in Fair Lawn brokers with RIPCO Real Estate announced Thursday the family-owned chain will open this spring at Maple Avenue Plaza at 21-06 Maple Ave The restaurant will follow existing New Jersey locations in Hazlet offering an Asian fusion dining experience with dumplings buns and wontons made fresh on site and tea that is imported directly from Taiwan Eden Nails and Fair Lawn Wine & Spirits “We believe their presence will enhance our tenant mix and complement the existing restaurants including Buffalo Wild Wings Go and Bubbakoo’s Burritos,” said RIPCO Real Estate Executive Vice President of Curtis Nassau “Bao Dumplings and Bao Tea’s reputation for fresh high-quality food and their focus on community engagement make them an excellent fit for this location We’re confident that their arrival will not only attract more visitors but also contribute to the vibrancy and success of the entire shopping center.” Dongri Cui of Bao Dumplings and Bao Tea added: “Fair Lawn is a great town and we can’t wait to share our food with the community and it will be easy for them to get to us.” The Fair Lawn school board has found a replacement for its outgoing assistant superintendent who is retiring after 21 years in the district the Board of Education approved an initial contract with Claire Keller to begin Jan 21 and end with the current school year on June 30 Keller will receive a pro-rated portion of a $180,000 full-year salary The new assistant superintendent has served as the Bloomfield School District’s director of student achievement for the last 2½ years and worked in the district 7½ years overall The nine-member Fair Lawn board voted almost unanimously for Keller’s appointment with Rita Fayvelevich as the sole "no" vote Fayvelevich did not explain her vote during the meeting and did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Keller said she was “incredibly humbled and excited to be here,” adding that the students of the K-12 district are now her “number one concern.” has served the district as assistant superintendent of education for 12 years and was previously a principal at Radburn Elementary and Memorial Middle schools Superintendent Rui Dionisio said Keller stood out as an “outstanding candidate from a robust selection process that included 70 applicants and multiple rounds of very comprehensive interviews over the past several months.” More: Crowded field vies for Fair Lawn school board seats; meet the seven candidates Keller apart is her exceptional performance and being able to articulate across critical leadership domains particularly in the areas of the district’s strategic priorities,” Dionisio said Keller’s initial contract period ends in June because under state law New Jersey school districts have annual contracts that align with the school year calendar Dionisio said in an email on Friday afternoon Renewal recommendations are then typically made each May for the upcoming school year and come before the board which can approve them for another one-year term Many of the school board members congratulated Keller on her new position and wished Lacatena the best from what I’ve seen,” board member Edward Bertolini told Keller during the meeting but I’m confident based on your resume and our meet-and-greet earlier tonight that you can reach the high standards set by Natalie.” Email: noda@northjersey.com Twitter: @snoda11 Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A driver narrowly escaped death after a NJ Transit train slammed into their car on the tracks in Bergen County Wednesday when an eastbound train not in passenger service hit a vehicle on the Bergen County Line near Radburn Station in Fair Lawn the driver survived the impact and was taken to a local hospital No injuries were reported to the train crew Service was temporarily suspended but has since resumed The New Jersey Transit Police Department is investigating how the car ended up on the tracks What was once the site of a vacant office building has been transformed into Livana Fair Lawn: An upscale rental community that offers an elevated living experience for those 55 years and older in Bergen County the property is the second of several developments coming to New Jersey under the new Livana brand by real estate development firm Kushner Companies There is also an existing all-ages community in East Hanover as well as four to-be-built developments in Livingston Just like the moon moves through many phases life is filled with cycles — whether you're starting out embracing change or entering a new chapter," said Nicole Kushner Meyer "Our communities are thoughtfully designed to reflect and support these different phases offering spaces that grow with you and inspire you throughout your journey." Meyer said the Livana brand is using furnishings from RH to provide a high-end and timeless interior in each of its communities neutral colors and minimalist designs to create a warm and inviting atmosphere Designed by Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners Livana Fair Lawn is located just minutes from the Radburn train station and Route 208 which welcomed its first residents in October features 307 one- and two-bedroom residences — with 41 of them being affordable housing units — starting at $2,850 per month Each unit includes amenities such as oversized windows chef-inspired kitchens with Caesarstone countertops and stainless steel appliances built-in closet systems and full-sized in-unit washers and dryers And because the property is shaped like a figure 8 — with two courtyards that house a pool outdoor grills and other attractions — some residences also come with a private outdoor patio space Meyer said that when creating these spaces they focused on utilizing design elements that were more common in condos rather than in other rental communities She said this resulted in a more homey environment for residents who may be coming there from a single-family home "We aimed for a more elevated aesthetic by incorporating travertine and natural stone elements creating a refined condo experience that feels luxurious and sophisticated — as opposed to a typical rental," she said Livana Fair Lawn has spaces like a fitness center and yoga studio Meyer said they are also in the process of adding a children's room with toys that residents can use for grandchildren or other young relatives who might be visiting There's also a multi-function room with a kitchen and living room area a resident club room with games available for residents to play and a movie and library suite Meyer said these spaces are where residents come together — such as through their book club Mahjong club or potluck events — but that they can also be reserved for private entertaining In the package room, there's a designated wrapping station that's free to use and a TULU unit where residents can borrow household items for no additional cost residents have access to a printer and TV or can participate in the technology classes that Livana hosts which residents use for digital entry to their residences and the property's amenities It's also a one-stop shop for residents to access community announcements utilize the property's full concierge service and manage rent payments Meyer said that each Livana property will feature individualized amenities that are curated to the demographic that they're focusing on in each area And because Livana Fair Lawn is catering to residents who are 55 and older she said this location is all about providing an all-inclusive lifestyle Livana truly reflects the excellence of our development team It's not just about building a high-quality product; it's about crafting an elevated luxury lifestyle experience," Meyer said "Each community is unique because we thoughtfully consider the residents and their needs before the design process even begins." Police and school officials are investigating an incident at Fair Lawn High School after antisemitic graffiti Superintendent Rui Dionisio shared a letter with parents about the situation last week saying that “such expressions of hate are unacceptable and starkly contrast the principles of inclusivity and respect instilled in our schools.” The school district had notified the Fair Lawn Police Department after finding the graffiti which was also been reported to the Anti-Defamation League and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Dionisio said the “appropriate disciplinary action will follow in accordance with district policies and applicable laws” and urged anyone with information to come forward to the high school administration or the Fair Lawn Police Department our district will maintain its established partnerships with community members as we continue addressing antisemitism and all forms of hate in our schools,” Dionisio said in the letter “We have counseling services and support systems in place for any students affected by this incident.” Mayor Gail Rottenstrich posted on Facebook last week about the incident noting that immediate action was taken to investigate the crime and appropriate disciplinary action will follow She urged anyone with information to come forward “I understand how upsetting this is not just for students but their families and our wider community as well Faith leaders in our community as well as the Jewish Federation have offered their assistance to the schools including counseling and increased awareness and education,” Rottenstrich said in the post “We must all work together to increase dialogue and understanding if we are to eradicate hate.” The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office did not respond immediately to a message asking about the incident The Fair Lawn school district has filled a Board of Education vacancy with a longtime resident who has a background in grants and finance “I’m thrilled and really happy to be part of the board,” said Julie Kossoy who is expected to be sworn in at the board's Feb Kossoy will fill the seat previously held by longtime member Michael Rosenberg, who stepped down at the end of 2024 after almost 18 years on the board After asking potential candidates to submit their information early this year board members interviewed seven candidates at a special Jan 30 meeting before choosing their replacement Kossoy will fill the remainder of Rosenberg's term The K-12 district serves about 5,600 students The new trustee has lived in the borough for 16 years and had three kids go through district schools Kossoy was involved with groups at Radburn Elementary School for 11 years including the Fifth Grade Committee and the Parent Teacher Association She also volunteered for the Thomas Jefferson Middle School PTA when her kids attended that school Kossoy has worked as a grants specialist at Ramapo College for almost six years She has a finance degree from Virginia Tech and a master's in business administration from William Paterson University “That’s one of the things I thought I could help the board with especially since I’ve been working in higher education for over 15 years,” she said Friday “I thought having that perspective of higher education administration would be helpful." She had wanted to run for the board for years but with work commitments and taking care of three kids Kossoy felt in the past that she didn’t have the time to commit When she saw there was an opening this year she thought it was the perfect time to put her name out there One important issue that encouraged her to seek the position is the health and wellness of students and the challenges they may be facing after COVID More: Fair Lawn eatery reopens, six months after strip-mall fire. What’s next for other businesses? “Making sure the health and wellness of students is a high priority I think that’s an important thing for all districts "That’s one of the things I felt strongly about.” She's also glad the board reflects the diversity of Fair Lawn and was happy to add to it with her background and skills Kossoy is a fluent Russian speaker and said she looks forward to connecting with that part of the community especially with the budget and finance piece as we go into the next budget cycle,” she said “I’m sure there will challenges and work to do so I’m happy to bring my knowledge and skills I’m looking forward to listening and learning since I know we have a great team in place.” The Fair Lawn Board of Education is seeking to fill a vacancy left by a longtime member who stepped down at the end of 2024 Michael Rosenberg, who had served on the board for almost 18 years, said in a Facebook post that although he has decided to move on he is still planning to stay involved in the borough and with public education the retired teacher said he just wanted "to get out of the political end of it." "To the people I have disappointed from my decision who had a year left in his three-year term I have learned a lot from this experience and who knows what my next experience in public education will be For those interested in becoming a board member there are a few legal requirements listed on the school district’s website for the position Those interested in joining the board to fill the vacancy are being asked to email a resume and letter of interest by Jan The letter should focus on legal qualifications, background and reasons for wanting to serve on the Board of Education, the site says. Messages can be sent to Business Administrator Danielle Mancuso at dmancuso@fairlawnschools.org Seven candidates are running for the Fair Lawn school board this year all with their own ideas on how to improve the K-12 district Joseph Baldofsky, Eugene Banta, Anthony Elia, Lyudmila Koroleva, Manda Prashant Pasarkar, Wilkin Santana and Bazhena Tulchinskiy are running for three three-year terms on the nine-person board in the Nov. 5 election The district has a student population of almost 5,700 10 schools and a $134 million budget for the 2024-25 school year In September, the candidates took part in a forum run by the League of Women Voters where they discussed topics including the use of cellphones in the classroom All except Koroleva and Tulchinskiy responded to a request from NorthJersey.com and The Record for candidate statements giving their positions and goals. Koroleva's information is taken from her campaign Facebook page and Vote411.org a site run by the League of Women Voters Education Fund Tulchinskiy also provided information to Vote411 I am a lifelong resident of the borough and a proud product of our district I have been serving on the board since 2022 and have had the privilege of serving as the vice president of the board since January I have developed the skills necessary to be an effective board member and I am eager to continue to serve our students and our community An avid supporter of the college’s vision to be “a national exemplar of public higher education,” I currently serve on the TCNJ Alumni Association Board After working in county government for two years I continued my public education journey at Rutgers Law School-Newark this past spring and recently began my career as an attorney at a midsize firm I remain committed to ensuring the continued success of our district I understand the unique needs of our students more than ever And having chaired negotiations for two of our collective bargaining units I also understand the needs of our faculty and staff What our school community needs is a board that provides the support and resources necessary to succeed I am proud to call Fair Lawn home and grateful for my own experiences in our schools I want to ensure our students continue to have access to similar opportunities all while creating new and innovative programs that respond to the changing needs of our community Eugene BantaI have lived in Fair Lawn for over 40 years I am an attorney who is admitted to the bar in both New York and New Jersey I have been a board member for over 32 years The philosophy I have lived by is to always do what is right for the district with all other stakeholders being a close second I have worked with over 30 other board members seven business administrators and a dozen or so other central office administrators I have been elected as board president 12 times and as vice president five times I have always strived to work with people of differing opinions and to form a consensus on major issues I was part of the team that brought us world languages in the elementary schools 25 years ago Fair Lawn was one of the first districts in New Jersey to do this completed four building expansion referenda three superintendent searches and worked through numerous critical issues such as the flooding at Memorial Middle School during Sandy and two years of COVID either as leader of the board as president or vice president or as a member who does whatever he can to pitch in and help All three of my children attended and graduated from Fair Lawn schools and I am immensely proud of them and of Fair Lawn for giving them the tools they need to succeed in life I still have more to contribute to this great district an assistant professor at Pace University for American Sign Language and a doctoral student at Saint Elizabeth’s University for education leadership I was diagnosed profoundly deaf at age three then attended a school Deaf and Hard of Hearing program up until sixth grade when I started my journey in Fair Lawn schools Fair Lawn has done so much for me as a student with a disability and that is something I will forever be grateful for I have seen the power of accommodation and assistance in this school district and want to ensure that continues for our students who need it I want to give back to the town that has given so much to me I was a successful student who went through high school got an undergraduate degree in deaf education program; that is thanks to Fair Lawn public schools who was a major part in that My passion has been education since second grade and I would love the opportunity to build on Fair Lawn’s success and serve the board unique language opportunities such as American Sign Language I want to also seek adjustments to the current criteria for advanced classes for our students in addition to STEM and trade opportunities in schools for students who hold passions in those areas I hope my presence can bring more perspective and diversity to the board More: Seven candidates for Fair Lawn school board weigh in on cellphones, overcrowding, at forum Lyudmila Koroleva did not return emails seeking a candidate profile but did post about her platform on Facebook and submitted information to Vote411.org Koroleva is a parent of a Fair Lawn middle schooler and has lived in town for 30 years She said her goals include “equipping students for the future,” helping foster “career ready skills,” ensuring “parental involvement” and “expanding opportunities,” including advocating for special programs for foreign languages and STEM courses She also hopes to help the district regain federal “Blue Ribbon status at the high school level.” She said on the campaign page that she would like to expand career and technical education to allow students to get hands-on experience in fields like information technology When asked about the use of AI with students and staff Koroleva told Vote411.org: “AI has tremendous potential to improve both student and staff experiences in our schools it can be a powerful tool for modern education supporting personalized learning by allowing teachers to tailor resources to individual needs.” and equity as top priorities,” Koroleva said later in her Vote411.org statement “Strong oversight is essential to prevent biases and ensure equal access to AI tools for all students AI can significantly enrich the learning environment and empower both students.” Koroleva told Vote411.org: “Over the years I have consistently advocated for the interests of students and parents by participating in Board of Education meetings serving on the PTA at Milnes Elementary and acting as a class parent throughout my child’s elementary school years.” More: Our guide to New Jersey's 2024 elections for federal, local and school races I am eager to give back to the community that has supported me tremendously I have been a Fair Lawn resident for over 23 years I have two children — one has graduated from FLHS My family is actively involved in supporting the community I will support all our students in developing policies and curricula that support trade education and academic excellence at all levels Our school district has programs for special kids I bring my job experience, which involves reviewing and adopting policies day in and day out. I work on projects and lead people, which has helped me develop patience and maintain composure during crises. Serving on the Fair Lawn Zoning Board has given me insight into the responsibilities of a board of trustees my membership in Toastmasters requires me to adhere to Robert's Rules of Order helping me understand the importance of following time limits and waiting for an appropriate turn to speak It is my third time running for the board seat Management is the responsibility of the superintendent and my role is to work alongside the board to support him in performing his duties I am committed to expressing my opinions thoughtfully when necessary I am eager to learn from the senior BOE members to help children and parents.On November 5th I humbly ask for your valuable vote to help me serve our community as a board member I am deeply grateful for the support and kindness that I have received from the Fair Lawn community since I first became a resident Your continued support is invaluable to me and I am running for the Fair Lawn Board of Education with a mission to prioritize the needs of our children and foster a supportive I understand the importance of investing in our students' future I believe in the power of education to transform lives and I am committed to working on behalf of all students in Fair Lawn ensuring they have the opportunities and resources they need to thrive My platform centers around child-centric decision-making where every decision is made with our children’s best interests as the guiding principle I will stand strong against all forms of hate and any other form of discrimination in our schools welcoming environments for all students is a top priority for me To further support the well-being of our children I will advocate for policies that protect their mental health This includes promoting responsible technology usage during school hours by limiting cellphone and social media use during instructional time I will push for more access to school counselors and stronger partnerships with mental health organizations I will champion vital programs such as special education English language learning and vocational tech Recognizing the cultural diversity of Fair Lawn I also support the introduction of Hebrew and Russian as foreign languages in our schools Transparency and community involvement are essential to my platform I will work to ensure that budget decisions are made openly I am committed to ensuring our budget prioritizes essential programs and resources that directly benefit students Fair Lawn deserves a Board of Education that promotes inclusion I look forward to serving our community and contributing to the continued excellence of our schools Bazhena TulchinskiyBazhena Tulchinskiy did not respond to emails asking for a candidate statement but did submit information to Vote411.org a resident who has lived and worked in the borough since 2018 She told Vote411: “As a mom and an employee of local small business I enjoy attending various events with my children I used to read to the class when my older children were in elementary school As an office manager for environmental health consulting firm right on Maple Ave making sure our community and town have a healthy environment is one of my priorities I would like to become more involved in working on our town's water and indoor air quality.” When asked about what motivated her to run for the board she responded: “My motivation to become a Board of Education member is most importantly the future and education of my own three daughters and the children of our community." She added: “As an executive administrative professional I possess strong leadership skills and am accustomed to working with a diverse team I enjoy strategizing and working on common goals and to find ways on how to improve our schools and community.” When asked about her thoughts about the use of AI with students and staff she responded on the site: “The use of Artificial Intelligence is a relatively new tool that can be beneficial in educational setting for both staff and students It could help teachers work more efficiently and aid with time management Artificial Intelligence should be used with caution by students to make sure that it expands knowledge and is not used as a method of cheating." She added: “It is of utmost importance to ensure AI is used ethically and is not replacing human interaction.” Fair Lawn has received another grant that will help revitalize its Broadway business district this time focusing on creating a streetscape plan for the area received a $43,500 NJ Asset Activation and Planning grant earlier this month from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority that will fund a streetscape design company to create conceptual designs for a revitalized district it may include designing sidewalk improvements This isn’t the first grant the borough has received to help improve the Broadway business district. Earlier this year, the borough received an estimated $275,000 federal Economic Recovery Corps grant that will fund a full-time person to specifically focus on revitalizing Broadway for the next 2½ years said they are in the data collection part of the initiative now have been meeting with stakeholders in town from local groups like emergency services to homeowners to get input about what they would like to see on Broadway “One of the feedbacks we’ve been getting is [people want] more greenery in the district and make it more pedestrian-friendly,” said Greff “What a time to get a grant [with] the momentum of having a full-time person.” Jef Buehler of the state’s NJ Business Action Center had informed Fair Lawn Main Street Inc of the grant eligibility and said the center is glad to work together to help Fair Lawn’s business district planning efforts “Fair Lawn is creating its future in real time and we at NJBAC are glad to be a collaborating partner supporting their efforts,” said Buehler in a statement Broadway isn’t the only business district the town is looking to freshen up. Earlier this month, Fair Lawn Main Street Inc. used a survey to seek community input on how residents and shoppers would like to see the Fair Lawn Avenue and River Road business district evolve in the future which coincided with a visit from an economic development group and a consultant While Greff said he had been hoping for 200 responses “Fair Lawn Main Street has already done a lot of work to start the revitalization process for Broadway and River Road business districts and they generated a lot of enthusiasm from the community regarding giving input on what they’d like to see happen,” said Mayor Gail Rottenstrich “We also generated a lot of interest from the state and federal government in helping us achieve the goals that we’re setting for ourselves.”   .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matt Bove | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comKevin Stonehouse paced Passaic Tech with three goals in its 8-7 win over Fair Lawn in Fair Lawn Kaden Avella added two goals and one assist in the victory while Luca Aliano had a goal and a team-high three assists Anthony Klimczuk was huge in net with 21 saves The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription Matt Bove can be reached at mbove@njadvancemedia.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Anthony Gabbianelli | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comMatthew Kong was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for Fair Lawn in its 5-4 walk-off win against Passaic Valley in Fair Lawn Passaic Valley (9-2) led 3-0 after the third inning when Fair Lawn (2-8) got a run back in the bottom of the fourth Each team scored a run in the fifth inning Fair Lawn tallied three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the win Miguel Monegro had an RBI for Fair Lawn and two singles Mike Liotti was 3-for-4 for Passaic Valley with two runs scored Anthony Gabbianelli can be reached at agabbianellli@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)